Ouch. The once highly recommended free antivirus software from Microsoft, MS Security Essentials has failed AV-Test’s virus detection tests. Zero day exploits as well as standard virus scanning. It has been verified by other independent testing companies, as well. Hopefully, Microsoft can get back on top, otherwise I’ll have to start recommending something else. MSE has been great for me so far, and has a very small footprint and integrates into the OS very well. Time to move on, or wait a month or so to see if they can rebound?

According to the testing firm, Security Essentials was only able to spot 64 percent of zero-day malware attacks during September and October. This is down from the previous testing period in which Microsoft’s antivirus was able to spot 69 percent of zero-day threats. Still, this is well below the industry average detection  rate of 89 percent.

Computer Science in high school? When I was a kid, that meant teaching yourself BASIC and/or C using a school computer. The teachers for computer class taught Wordperfect and very simple PC usage (using DOS, of course!). I would really like to see more computer science classes taught at the high school level as well as have more ways to advance from the high school level to college level. Computer Science Education Week is this week, and it hopes to inform people of the huge computer science curriculum gap.

I hope so, as I’ve seen some very talented kids cruise through high school and being taught the basics of the Internet (what kid doesn’t already know about that these days?!). I’ve even seen colleges that require beginning PC classes (usage of the mouse, etc.) as a required course for computer science majors. Having a placement exam, you could gauge the students level and find that they could start in C++ classes instead of beginning Windows classes (which is a waste of time and money for the student, and really turns them off of school). 

Even interested, high-potential students are being kept out. I recently spoke with a young woman in Massachusetts, who, when asked if she planned to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) course, said “I’m hoping my teacher will let me sit alone in a classroom and work on it by myself,” and that it wasn’t offered at her school or through their virtual school exchange. Nationwide only 7 percent of high schools offer the APCS course. This is a wake-up call. We are squandering a precious resource – our students.

The Surface is doomed! It’s insecure, unstable and is designed around Windows. Ok, so this guy is really spewing some major FUD. But, don’t worry, he’s quick to say that the iPad can fix all these problems and you can even get an increase in productivity! This ex-programmer (assembly), tech writer has some issues with Windows, and he really shows it. He puts the failure on the Surface on the Windows operating system. Basically “It runs Windows, so it sucks!”.

I’ll admit that Windows 8 isn’t perfect. I’ve found a few flaws, but if the Surface fails, it will not be from anything this guy has said. Price? Maybe. Availability? Maybe. When reading the article, be sure to read the comments. They should really help you understand how many people can see through his huge Apple bias.

If so, you’re making a huge mistake. Because the Surface is based upon Windows, it is, and will remain, inherently unstable and insecure. That’s because Windows itself is a security and stability nightmare.

With Nintendo throwing the first punch in the newest next-gen console race, Microsoft was sure to deliver a follow up. The newest Xbox is rumored to be delivered by the holidays of 2013. With a 70 million user base with the Xbox 360 and sales still very strong, Microsoft has been hesitant to release a new console. But, with the competition strong it’s time to debut the new machine.

Sources can’t say when or where the new console will first show up, at E3 in June, or at a stand alone party similar to the Surface launch. Time will tell. Cost? Unknown, but a huge factor when people are making their purchases, especially in this economy.

Since the release of the Xbox 360 in 2005, the gaming market has changed, as casual games played on tablets and phones gain in popularity. Microsoft introduced full-body motion controls to console gaming with the Kinect. More than 40 million of the 70 million Xbox 360 customers also have Xbox Live online subscriptions, many of which are used to watch TV and movies, rather than play games.

The Surface Pro finally has a price, and it’s about what I was expecting. $899 for a 64 GB version, and $999 for the 128 GB version. Not too bad at all. I’m looking forward to grabbing one of these. I’ll definitely splurge for the 128 GB version. The pricing is for the stand alone tablet, with the touch or type cover sold separately.

On the inside, Surface with Windows 8 Pro will come with Intel’s next generation Core i5 processor. This chip will give Surface with Windows 8 Pro a graphics boost for its 10.6” 16:9 ClearType display that runs at a 1920×1080 full HD resolution. Surface with Windows 8 Pro also includes a full-size USB 3.0 port. Its Mini DisplayPort can drive an external display up to 2560X1440 resolution. And, as I mentioned above, Surface with Windows 8 Pro will support Pen input. This is an amazing feature for all you note-takers or document editors out there, especially since it has expanded capacitive and digitizing technology we’re calling Palm Block that will prevent your handwriting from getting interrupted if you accidently place your palm on the screen as you write. This feature is pretty cool, and allows for a great inking experience alongside a great touch experience when needed.

You see this guy all over every forum, every post that mentions Internet Explorer. The IE Troll. Microsoft has finally acknowledged this guy and admits that it is getting better after having some down time.

I did not see this coming at all. Steven Sinofsky has left Microsoft. He was the head of the Windows team during development of Windows 8 and the Surface. His departure from the company is not related to the mentioned products, but rather a personality clash with other employees.

I wish Steven well in his future endeavors. His replacements are Julie Larson-Green and Tami Reller. I can’t wait to see what these two can come up with. The both sound like very intelligent and capable women.

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky will be leaving the company and that Julie Larson-Green will be promoted to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller retains her roles as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer and will assume responsibility for the business of Windows. Both executives will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Stardock, the company behind Start8, which brings back the Start menu to Windows 8, has released a beta for Decor8. Decor8 is an application that can customize your start screen with tile placement and backgrounds.

Personally, I really like the Start screen and don’t mind the loss of the start menu. But, my gripe was that it just wasn’t customizable. Now, it is. I’m definitely going to test out the beta on this one!

Choose from more background images to personalize your start screen.

• Add your own photos and images
• Select multiple images to create a custom slideshow
• Randomize background images in timed intervals for a fresh look
• Fade background images against the start screen color for a subtle effect

The acquisition of Skype a while back by Microsoft is finally giving back. On the Windows Blog, it was announced that Windows Live Messenger is being retired in favor of Skype for instant messaging. You are still able to log in using your Microsoft log in credentials, as well. They are planning on retiring it throughout various regions within the next few months, leaving mainland China on Messenger.

Recently, we added the ability to sign in to Skype using a Microsoft account, the same account you use for Messenger, Hotmail, Outlook.com, and more, bringing your contacts to Skype automatically. This makes Skype fantastic for connecting with that network of people you know and love.

Windows 8 is being launched in the Japanese market with what else? Anime! Also some people say this is a strictly Japanese craze, I’m sure there would be a decent market in USA for it. I’m looking at importing a copy of the Japan version just to have as a collectors item. $200 USD is a lot of cheese, though. Used market may not be too bad in a few months!

Despite confusion over alleged magic touch screen-imbuing capabilities, Windows 8 seems to be doing well in Japan as well— so well, in fact, that limited-quantity DSP editions of the operating system, which feature two unofficial Windows 8-themed “moe” mascots, are already beginning to sell out, proving once again that the Japanese will buy anything with a cute anime girl on it (not that there was a lack evidence).